Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Narita Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Narita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,428 in Okinawa versus $1,268 in Narita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,217 in Okinawa versus $1,951 in Narita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,007 in Okinawa versus $2,635 in Narita.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 13% more expensive than in Narita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 7% above, Narita is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.47 ¥1,335

$5.65 ¥891

49.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.01 ¥6,620

$41.07 ¥6,471

2.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 ¥921

$4.95 ¥781

17.98%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ¥525

$3.19 ¥503

4.39%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ¥213

$0.80 ¥127

68.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ¥136

$0.76 ¥120

13.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 ¥560

$2.14 ¥337

66.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ¥754

$3.05 ¥480

57.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ¥298

$1.23 ¥194

53.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 ¥355

$0.88 ¥139

155.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.60 ¥725

$5.04 ¥794

-8.73%

Eggs

$2.04 ¥322

$2.29 ¥360

-10.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ¥2,592

$10.27 ¥1,618

60.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.24 ¥1,771

$6.19 ¥975

81.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.66 ¥4,200

$15.22 ¥2,399

75.16%

Apples (1kg)

$5.02 ¥791

$6.05 ¥953

-17.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 ¥423

$3.13 ¥493

-14.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.06 ¥482

$3.91 ¥616

-21.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.76 ¥907

$6.13 ¥965

-6.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.53 ¥556

$3.34 ¥526

5.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 ¥437

$4.19 ¥661

-33.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 ¥240

$1.37 ¥217

10.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥138

$0.88 ¥139

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.76 ¥749

$3.23 ¥509

47.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.27 ¥989

$9.02 ¥1,421

-30.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ¥286

$1.84 ¥290

-1.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ¥467

$2.11 ¥332

40.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.68 ¥265

$1.66 ¥262

1.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.11 ¥5,533

$55.6 ¥8,762

-36.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.06 ¥640

$3.45 ¥544

17.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.77 ¥594

$1.61 ¥254

134.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.85 ¥2,025

$22.48 ¥3,542

-42.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ¥197

$1.12 ¥176

11.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.2K ¥3.7M

$20.6K ¥3.2M

12.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.0K ¥2.7M

$18.4K ¥2.9M

-7.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$176 ¥27.7K

$144 ¥22.8K

21.63%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.21 ¥4,287

$27.91 ¥4,397

-2.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.15 ¥5,066

$31.60 ¥4,980

1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ¥8,252

$55.6 ¥8,764

-5.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 ¥1,120

$14.09 ¥2,220

-49.54%

Cinema Ticket

$12.63 ¥1,990

$12.42 ¥1,956

1.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$346 ¥54.6K

$287 ¥45.2K

20.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K ¥2.1M

$14.0K ¥2.2M

-4.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.92 ¥7,709

$42.25 ¥6,658

15.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.26 ¥4,610

$29.56 ¥4,658

-1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 ¥11.5K

$61.2 ¥9,639

19.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 ¥14.3K

$112 ¥17.6K

-18.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥71.4K

$503 ¥79.3K

-10.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥63.0K

$351 ¥55.4K

13.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$960 ¥151.3K

$875 ¥137.8K

9.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$737 ¥116.1K

$672 ¥105.9K

9.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,685 ¥1.4M

$4,599 ¥724.6K

88.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,206 ¥190.1K

$2,326 ¥366.5K

-48.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,744 ¥274.8K

$1,218 ¥191.9K

43.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.05

-2.44%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Okinawa: July 28, 2026

Last update for Narita: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $453 in Okinawa and $503 in Narita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 43% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Okinawa vs $41.00 in Narita for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $319 per month, with Narita cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Okinawa vs Narita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Narita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 43% higher in Okinawa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $453 in Okinawa versus $503 in Narita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Narita runs roughly 58% less than in Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $346 in Okinawa versus $287 in Narita. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,268 in Narita versus $1,428 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Narita but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Narita the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Okinawa and Narita are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Narita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.